Tuesday, May 5, 2009

After watching a handful of anti-gay protesters in action at the SundayOUT! Street Festival in Philadelphia this past weekend, perhaps the British government's decision to include the Rev. Fred Phelps and his daughter Shirley on its so-called "least wanted" list amounts to some long overdue poetic justice.

A clear argument can be made the Phelps clan considers any sort of attention the media pays to their protests a success. And an equally convincing argument can be made the Westboro Baptist Church remains one of the movement for LGBT rights' most important assets.

Freedom of speech remains one of this country's founding ideals. It is something to be cherished and celebrated, but the British government's decision to ban Phelps and his daughter from the United Kingdom serves as a powerful reminder this basic human right comes with immense responsibility. And it also proves freedom of speech should not come at the expense of someone else's personal dignity, liberty and even safety.